"Even the magnitude of the resulting eccentricity cannnot be considered as proving the curve described to be actually a hyperbola. On the contrary, I fully coincide with the views which Professor Peirce has developed at a late meeting of the Academy, with regard to the non-hyperbolism of any of the cometary orbits on record. I can only say, that no curve but a hyperbola can be drawn precisely through the three places given by the observations on which my calculations were based. None of the observations had been made in the meridian, and a small change in the fundamental places would change the character of the curve very considerably. I believe, however, that the evidence is sufficient to prove that the comet was not moving in any ellipse whose eccentricity differs sufficiently from unity to enable us to deduce the period, and am convinced that no hypothesis of identity with Klinkenberg's comet of 1748 could be supported. It must moreover be observed, that, during the whole of the period comprised between the fundamental observations, the comet was approaching the earth, whose attraction must, in consequence of its proximity, have been powerful, and was to be added to that of the sun. The increased velocity thus imparted to the comet might give temporarily a hyperbolic aspect to the orbit."

Dr. Gould then spoke of the comet observations quoted in Struyck and Pingré as having been made by Kindermann in Dresden, and a Dutch navigator at the Cape of Good Hope, in the spring of 1748. He had attempted to reconcile them with the orbits of the two authentic comets of that year, but entirely in vain.

DONATIONS TO THE LIBRARY,

FROM JUNE, 1848, TO MAY, 1849.

Edward Everett. Eulogy on the Life and Character of John Quincy Adams, delivered at the Request of the Legislature of Massachusetts, in Faneuil Hall. 8vo. pamph. From the Author.

J. L. and Henry C. Lord. Defence of Dr. C. T. Jackson's Claims to the Discovery of Etherization. 8vo. pamph. From the Authors.

Dr. L. P. Yandell and Dr. B. F. Sheemard. Contributions to the Geology of Kentucky. 8vo. pamph. From the Authors.

Observations upon a Greek Vase discovered in Etruria, bearing the

Name of the Fabricator, Nicosthenes, in the Possession of the Marquis of Northampton. 4to pamph. From the Author, through Mr. Ev

erett.

Wm. Whewell, D. D. The Philosophy of the Inductive Sciences, founded upon their History. A new Edition. 2 vols. 8vo. From the Author.

Transactions of the American Antiquarian Society. Vol. II. 8vo. From the Society.

A Catalogue of the Books in the Library of the American Antiquarian Society, in Worcester, Massachusetts. From the Society.

Nachrichten von der Georg-Augusts-Universitäts und der Königl. Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, vom Jahre 1846. -Nachrichten, etc., vom Jahre 1847. 4to. From the Royal Society of Sciences of Göttingen.

Abhandlungen der Königl. Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen. Band III. 4to. 1845-47. From the Royal Society of Sciences of Göttingen.

Professor J. F. Hausmann. Bemerkungen über Gyps und Kanstenit. (Extr. Abhand. Königl. Gesellsch. Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, Band III.) From the Author.

Mémoires de la Société de Physique et d'Histoire Naturelle de Genève. Tome XI. (in two Parts). 4to. From the Society.

The American Journal of Science and Arts, for July, 1848. From the Editors.

Annual Report of the Regents of the University of the State of New York, made to the Legislature, March 2, 1848. 8vo. Albany. From the Regents.

Message of his Excellency, Governor Briggs, transmitting the Report of Benjamin Perley Poore, employed in France as Historical Agent of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, &c. 8vo. pamph. From Mr. Poore.

Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy. Vol. XXI., Part 2. 4to. Dublin, 1848.

Charts of the Coast Survey of the United States. From the Hon. J. G. Palfrey, and from the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Sears C. Walker. Ephemeris of Neptune for the Opposition of (Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge.) 4to pamph. From the Smithsonian Institution.

1848.

Hon. Captain W. H. Smyth, R. N. Description of an Astrological

Clock belonging to the Society of Antiquaries. 8vo. pamph. London, 1848. From the Author.

The American Journal of Science and Arts, for November, 1848. From the Editors.

B. A. Gould. Untersuchungen über die Gegenseitige Lage der Bahnen der zwischen Mars und Jupiter sich bewegenden Planeten. 8vo. pamph. Göttingen, 1847. From the Author.

Annual Report of the Regents of the University of the State of New York, on the Condition of the State Cabinet of Natural History, with Catalogues of the same. 8vo. Albany, 1848. From the Regents. Also a copy from Professor James Hall.

Reduction of Greenwich Lunar Observations, for the Years 1750 to 1830. 2 vols. 4to. From the Royal Society, London.

Greenwich Magnetical and Meteorological Observations, for 1845. 4to. From the Royal Society, London.

Magnetische und Meteorologische Beobachtungen zu Prag. Jahrg. 8. Jan.-Dec., 1847. Prague, 1848. From the Observatory of Prague.

Abhandlungen der Königlichen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen. Band III., von der Jahren 1845-1847. 4to. From the Royal Society of Göttingen.

Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History, New York. Vol. IV., Part 2. 8vo. New York, Sept., 1848. From the Lyceum.

Frederick Emerson. Communication to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, relative to a late Report on the Subject of Ventilators and Chimney-Tops. 8vo pamph. Boston, 1848. From the Author.

Henry Piddington. The Sailor's Horn-Book for the Law of Storms in all Parts of the World. 12mo. New York and London, 1848. From the Author, through W. C. Redfield.

Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, Vol. I. Viz. Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley, by E. G. Squier, A. M., and E. H. Davis, M. D. 4to. 1848. From the Smithsonian Institution. Alexandre Vattemare. Report on the Subject of International Exchanges. 8vo pamph. Washington, 1848. From the Author. Charles Cramer. Bescreibung der in der Grossen Knochen Höhle Tennessee gefundenen Fossilen Knochen des Megalonyx laqueatus, etc. From the Author.

Flora Batava; Afbeelding en Beschrijzing van Nederlandsche Ge

wassen, door Jan Kops, en J. E. van der Trappen. Aflev. 147, 148, 149, 150, 151. 4to. Amsterdam. From the Netherlands Govern

ment.

F. G. W. Struve. Stellarum Duplicium et Multiplicium Mensuræ Micrometrica per Magnum Fraunhoferi Tubum, Annis 1824-37, in Specula Dorpatensi Institutæ; Adjecta est Synopsis Observationum de Stellis Compositis Dorpati Annis 1814-24 per minora Instrumenta perfectorum. Editæ jussu et expensis Acad. Sci. Cæsar. Petropolitanæ. Petrop., 1837. From the Author.

F. G. W. Struve. Description de l'Observatoire Astronomique Central de Poulkova. St. Petersbourg, 1845. 4to. With a folio volume of Plates, &c. From the Imperial Observatory of Pulkova. F. G. W. Struve. Expedition Chronométrique executée en 1843 entre Poulkova et Altona, &c. St. Petersbourg, 1844. From the Imperial Observatory of Pulkova.

Astronomische Ortsbestimmungen in der Europäischen Türkel, in Kaukasien und Klein-Asien, etc., in der Jahren 1828 bis 1832. Angestellten Astronomischen Beobachtungen, etc., von F. G. W. Struve. St. Petersburg, 1845. From the Imperial Observatory of Pulkova.

F. G. W. Struve. Catalogus Librorum Speculæ Pulgovensis, 1845. From the Imperial Observatory of Pulkova.

F. G. W. Struve. Table des Positions Géographiques Principales de la Russie. St. Petersbourg, 1843. From the Imperial Observatory of Pulkova.

F. G. W. Struve. Sur le Coefficient Constant dans l'Aberration des Etoiles Fixes, etc. St. Petersbourg, 1843. From the Imperial Observatory of Pulkova.

F. G. W. Struve. Catalogue de 514 Etoiles Doubles et Multiples découvertes sur l'Hémisphère Céleste Boréal par la Grand Lunette de l'Observatoire Central de Poulkova : et Catalogue de 256 Etoiles Doubles Principales où la Distance des Composantes est 32 Secondes à 2 Minutes. Publiée par l'Acad. Imp. Sci. St. Petersb. 1843. From the Imperial Observatory of Pulkova.

M. Weisse. Catalogus Stellarum ex Zonis Regiomontanis. (Edit. F. G. W. Struve.) Petrop., 1846. From Professor Struve.

Walter Channing, M. D. On Etherization in Childbirth. 8vo. Boston, 1848. From the Author.

Topographical Engineers' Papers, No. 2. Determination of the Latitude with Zenith and Equal Altitude Telescopes, by Captain T. J.

Lee, U. S. Corps Topog. Engineers. 4to pamph. Washington, 1848. From the Topographical Bureau.

Charles Martins. Instructions pour l'Observation des Trombes Terrestres. (Extr. de l'Annuaire Météorologique de la France, 1848.) From the Author.

Edward Desor. Embryology of Nemertes, with an Appendix on the Embryonic Development of Polynoë. (Extr. Jour. Bost. Nat. Hist. Society.) From the Author.

American Journal of Science and Arts. No. 19. New Series. For January, 1848. From the Editors.

Abhandlungen der Königl. Preuss. Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin aus dem Jahre 1846. 4to. Berlin, 1848. From the Berlin Academy.

Monatsbericht der Königl. Preuss. Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin. July - Dec., 1847, and January - June, 1848. 8vo. From the Berlin Academy.

Denkschriften der Allgemeinen Schweitzerschen Gesellschaft für die gesammten Naturwissenschaften. Band I. 4to. Zurich, 182933. Neue Denkschriften Schweitz. Gesellsch., etc. Bände I. IX. 4to. Neuchatel, 1837-47. From the Helvetian Natural History

Society.

Francis Wayland, D. D. The Elements of Moral Science. Boston, 1849.-The Elements of Political Economy. Boston, 1848.Thoughts on the Present Collegiate System in the United States. Boston, 1842. Sermons delivered in the Chapel of Brown University. Boston, 1849. 12mo. From the Author.

Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge. Occultations visible in the United States during 1849, computed under the Direction and at the Expense of the Institution, by John Downes. 4to pamph. Washington, 1848. From the Smithsonian Institution.

Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia. Vol. IV., Nos. 3-7. 8vo. 1848.

Charter of the Boston and Lowell Railroad Corporation, and Report of the Directors to the Legislature, 1848. 8vo pamph. Boston, 1849.

Edward Everett. Correspondence relative to the Award of the King of Denmark's Comet-Medal to Miss Maria Mitchell of Nantucket, for the Discovery of a Telescopic Comet, on the 1st of October, 1847. Svo pamph. [Not published.] Cambridge, 1849. From the Author.